A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10576, 6 March 1912, Page 2

A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

<, By Mra Da Wlntar Baker, ?■ I Author of "Th© Sin of Carino," "Sir Blandford'# Protege©," For Weal or woo, ©to.

OUR SEBJAts.

('■HAPTKRt LlTl—Continued

Calling for pen and iitk Jason now set 'himself to compose a letter. He read it tlhrough with a smile of satisfaction when he had finished. It ran as follows:

"Sill ERIC TItEVELLAN: Hotel Splendide, Rue de lli vol i: If you wish io hear the true story of your father and 'the letters he wrote to a certain womani, come to the Impasse erron in the Quarter St. Denis, at eleven p.m. to-night. Come alone or no notice will lie taken of you.

"That ought to fetch him." muttered .Jason to himself, "and "The Infant" will do the rest." Attaching a .stamp to the letter he went out and posted it at the nearest box. He then returned to his lodgings to wait for .the anointed hour. Punctually at five minutes to eleven that Jason parted from "The Infant" in the neighbourhood of tlio Impasse Verron. Bv means of 'signs and broken English and French, they had perfected their arrangements. "The Infant" took up his position in a dark doorway at the entrance to the J rnpasio or blind alley, while Jason went some yards further down and also concealed himself. The clock in a neighbouring church had barely fininshed striking eleven, when the sound of footsteps was hoard coming along the deserted and pitch dark pavement which rail at right •angles to the impasse. At the corner they hesitated and stopped. The next moment there was a scuffle and a muttered cry. Instantly Jas--011 rushed from ihis place of concealment and went down to the corner of tlhe allev to find two men struggling madly. ' A long knife 'blade glinted in the darkness as he came up and he smiled to himself. He hurled himself between the two men. Instantly "The Infant" released his grasp and fled at full speed. The struggle now became between Jason •and the man who had been attacked at first. The latter wanted to give chase to his assailant but Jason held him back with all his might. "Don't' sir—don't! The bruite will only lure you to some quiet spot and ftnds-'h von off there." 'Hie iman ceased to straggle at these words. "Hello!" he gasped breathlessly; "you're English. Who the deuce arc you?" Mark Jason struck a match and held it up. "Sir Eric Trevellan!" His surprise was .a clever bit of acting. "Mark Jason!"

Thus they stood till the, niaitch burned down, and tike darkness covered the two again. 'Was it you, then, that wrote me that anonymous letter, you scoundrel, you?' Eric asked, when his amazement permitted him. "Yes—it wa.s lucky I happened to he waiting here. I came up just in time, didn't- I?'. was the obsequious reply. , . , .. 'And you—of all the people 111 the world —you saved my life!" . "Glad to lie of servico to you, Sir Eric. Please don't say any more about it. Shall be get along to a better quarter ? There may still be danger if that fellow gets to his gang." ''Go ahead,' said Sir Eric, "and I will follow. This thing wants thinking o\lt7' The whole thing had been so siulden .and unexpected—t'he attack,the struggle, the open knife, and Jason's timely arrival—'that it was no wonder at first that Eric barely comprehended what had happened. But as lie walked along behind Jason he realised that he his life to the one man tliat lie hated and despised—the man> who ought by rights to be in prison at this very momemt, expiating his cowardly assault on Lettice.

The thought of Lettice made him quicken his pace till ho got up alongside of Jason.

"This letter you wrote to me," he .said in an angry undertone. "What do you know?'' "I. fear you still think badly of me, Sir Eric,' ho said with-a :overt smile. 'Rang it all —I don't know what to think. To be candid, I have always bated you and thought you to be an arrant coward, Jason —and yet —and yet— you saved my life, Jason, without -a doubt. Look here —I'll strike a bargain. Tell me all you know about those letters of my father's and I will say nothing to the police about your being in Paris." "The police?" Jason spoke witth a deeply offended air. "Why do you mention the police, pray?" .■ "Well —you must surely know that all -is known now. Your cruelty to Miss Lascelles —your blackmail of my mother. Why—enough is known t<> get you clapped into prison for ten or twelve years I should think." "Me*? Prison? Wilia,t on eniitli are you talking about?" "Do you deny, then, that you imprisoned Miss 'Lascelles in that beastly dungeon in Trevellanj Castle — do you deny that you have ibeen .blackmailing my mother for goodnes' knows how long?" "Emphatically I deny it. J am absolutely iiuioceiDt, Sir Eric. I rushed here to aPavis as soon as I discovered the truth." "The truth —what truth?" "That I iha-vo been Grace Omer's dupe from tilio very 'beginning. She is itlie guilty one —s ! he li'aiS deceived me into helping her all t'he time—and I never suspected 'tiill a. few days ago. As soon as I learned what a villain she was, I loft her and camo .here. Natu-

rally, J was afraid of being accused of j being her accomplice. Has anyone accused me, Sir Eric?'' The last- question' was .put a little nervously, alter tfclio unscrupulous manner in which 'lie had .shifted the blame ' enito Omer'.s shoulders. .Jason was not j sure what Lottieo Lascelles might have said. To Uiis relief Enic replied at once: | "Xo one has openly blamed you at ■ present, except my mother. Bid how do 1 know th;i|t you are innocent, as you say? You Ihave acted in concert i with Diner all along. You aro as guilj iry as she as—guilty by connivance, if | not by act." j "if you think that, then you had better hand me over to the police aifc once." This was a bold counterstroke I of Jason's, hut it took effect as he ex- ' pectcd i.t would. Sir.Eric seemed d'is- ( tressed and did not know what to say. i Jason seized the advantage he had gained 'and continued: "You said ' (something .about a bargain', Sir Eric. May I suggest the terms?" They had come now to the brilliant streets now and the throng of pleasure seekers. "What do you suggest ?" queried the young man. "Without 'wishing t-o Jay undue stress 011 tho fact, I would like to remind yon that you owe your life to i me,' suggested Jason cunningly. "Now whatever you may think of me, you at least owe ano something in return. I have in my possession tho full story of Grace Omer's villainy. Your father was a perfectly upright and 'honest ■man —absolutely innocent of the scandalous behaviour that was imputed to him. How much is it worth if I can prove tWs to you ?'' Eric stopped short, 'as though hit violently between the eyes. They were passing..a cafe and 'lie staggered to a .seat. Jason sat down 011 a scat opposite to him and ordered brandy. "How much is it 'worth to me — worth —worth everything I possess!" Tho young 'baronet clutdlied in a - frenzied manner at the other's arm. "But is this true —what you telil me now ? How can Ibe sure that you are net bluffing me? How much do you want?" Jason's reply was sharp and to the point. < "How much have you got?" he asked. "About two thousand pounds in the bank, and some other money that I have invested and cannot touch. But the proofs, man —the proofs. I shan't pay a cent unless you give me the best proofs." "Can you touch the two thousand pounds 'here in Paris,' inquired Jason, with a greedy, avaricious glint in his eye. • His scheme .was working even ; better than he hind dared hope. "Yes, I can give you a check on the Credit Lyonnai.se in return for your proofs." "Are you alone in Paris?" Jason went on." He wanted to be sure that he was not going to be trapped. "Yes. No ono knows lam here." "Listen then. Take me to your hotel, write yoiti* check, and promise to say nobliing about me being in Paris, and I will tell you all. Will you do this I now—-at once?" { Eric gulped down his brandy and rose to his feet. "Come along!" he shouted excitedly .and led the way into tho street. (To be Continued.)